"Is … Is it?" Alyssa touched her face. It felt as warm as toast. She immediately looked away shyly. "Maybe it's because I've had a little to drink.""Weren't you on your way to the cellar? Your face is red before you've even had a drop," Sean pointed out. He was an elite employee but an amateur when it came to real life. He had no idea that Alyssa was just feeling horny. "You're so annoying!" Alyssa rolled her eyes at him and walked off in embarrassment. Sean was left standing there miserably. He didn't know how he had offended her. He had no choice but to tag along behind her.They arrived at the wine cellar. It held nearly a thousand bottles of red wine, all of which were prepared for Alyssa by Jasper. He knew that she had a hobby of having a drink or two. Every bottle of wine was expensive, and many of them were limited editions bought at auctions. Alyssa owned more than twenty bottles of some wines that even Winston didn't have. If she were to sell them, she could afford
Alyssa: "That's enough! You guys are so childish. Jasper must have investigated us because he suspects Silas' identity. You showed up twice to protect me, so I think he realized you aren't Jonah. If that's the case, then you guys don't have to hide anymore. If he wants an answer, I'll give him an answer!"The moment she spoke up, her older brothers immediately stopped fooling around. Alyssa's gaze darkened as she swirled the red wine in her glass. The weekend arrived in the blink of an eye. After public pressure, the Gardner Group held a press conference at a five-star hotel. A lot of reporters showed up. The Gardner family wasn't that influential on their own. Liana's engagement with Jasper made the Gardner family the center of attention overnight.A black Maybach was parked by the roadside opposite the hotel's entrance. Inside it, Jasper watched the press conference on his iPad indifferently. "Mr. Beckett, Mr. Newton reminded you not to bother about Gardner Group." Xavier
After Alyssa finished the chocolate, she put the remaining bar back in Sean's breast pocket and patted his chest. She said, "You're pretty in shape." Sean's heart thumped wildly, and he blushed. He was four years older than her. He had visited the Taylor residence often when he was a kid. His father had been the head of KS Group's legal department and was valued by Winston very much.Sean remembered that the first time he saw Alyssa was in the back garden of Heightsnew Villa. He had spotted the pretty little girl from far off, and she had raced toward him adorably. He had thought that he was dreaming, so he rubbed his eyes. She appeared before him wearing a white dress that made her look like an angel. "Hey, do you have any candy?" Alyssa hopped off her skateboard. She gave it a kick and caught it in her hand."Huh?" Sean was flustered and cursed at himself for having feelings for a girl younger than him. However, she was just too beautiful. Who wouldn't be mesmerized? "It's fi
Then, the voices of two men sounded out!"Mr. Gardner, I wouldn't have used cheap second-hand mattresses to replace high-end ones if it wasn't to help you make money! But I got caught by that new CEO of Taylor Group and lost my job. No one in Solana City will accept me! You can't just watch me suffer!""Don't tell me you were helping me. Haven't you also pocketed a hefty sum? Added with the money I gave you, you won't starve even if you spend the rest of your life jobless."One of the voices was Michael Grant's, and the other was Dylan Gardner's! The reporters were flabbergasted. Dylan broke out into a sweat. He steadied himself against the table as he nearly lost his balance. "What is this?! Who played it? Switch it off! Hurry up!" The audio clip stopped playing, but new images appeared on the screen. They were pictures of Michael and Dylan visiting a nightclub together! "Mr. Gardner! This is not what you promised me! You promised to protect me!""I have protected you. I hav
The picture that appeared was from the court's official webpage. It was from three years ago. Silas was wearing a robe and debating in court passionately. The app Jasper developed could find information on any person within five minutes. All it needed was a clear image of them uploaded to the app. The results were more accurate than those from search engines.However, it had taken up to ten minutes to search Silas up. He was obviously someone who very seldom went out in public or took pictures. He didn't have any social media accounts either. He was just an officer, but why was he so secretive? "Jonah Taylor … Silas Taylor …" Jasper thought for a moment and suddenly widened his eyes. "Could he be …" Jasper narrowed his eyes, and a stormy expression appeared on his face. His mouth went dry. He found it hard to breathe. So Alice never rejected anyone and immediately got close to Jonah after leaving him. Now, she had something going on with another guy from the Taylor family! Who d
Last night, Alyssa secretly found Michael. He was drowning his sorrows in a bar. She informed him about the press conference scheduled for tomorrow. Alyssa warned Michael that Dylan would undoubtedly sell him out to save himself."No way! You're not going to manipulate me like this! Forcing me to testify? I'm not that naive!" Michael protested."If you keep being so stubborn, then you're the one acting foolish," Alyssa replied.And so, Alyssa and Michael struck a deal last night."To be honest, I have evidence of the secret dealings between you and Dylan. I haven't handed it over to the authorities yet. Considering your past loyalty to my Dad's leadership, I'm giving you one last chance." Alyssa revealed.Michael reflected on the past twenty years. He recalled how he started as a humble banquet hall supervisor and worked his way up to become the deputy manager. He acknowledged that his success was not solely the result of his efforts. It was also due to Winston's recognition and s
Alyssa's eyes widened in shock. Her heart skipped a beat. Her gaze bore deeply into Jasper's. Her captivating eyes seemed to blaze with fiery flames. Her expression was almost overwhelming.Even a man as commanding as Jasper couldn't help but flicker his eyes as if trying to avoid her intense gaze.After a moment, Alyssa smiled. There was a distant look in her eyes. It was as if she were emotionally detached or lost in thought, creating a sense of unfamiliarity between them."So, Mr. Beckett, you rushed here only to vent your anger on your dear wife? It seems like you've been holding it in for so long that you might explode on the spot if you don't release it now."Jasper had pushed himself to the limit. Alyssa had poured her heart into her relationship with Jasper for the past three years. She didn't expect him to cherish any memory of her goodness. His continuous use of derogatory language to degrade her was crossing the line!Moreover, Alyssa had moved on and no longer be
"Yes, but I'm ..." Alyssa tugged him hard, signaling Sean to shut up. Sean quickly caught on and kept quiet."Well, Jonah didn't spare any expense when he assigned his most trusted secretary to you, Alice," Jasper sneered. "He must think highly of you. Congratulations, you're about to marry into another wealthy family. You fooled me completely, and now it's Jonah's turn. I hope he never sees your true colors."The words cut through Alyssa's heart like sharp blades, and Jasper didn't stop there. He seemed intent on further unsettling her.Sean immediately noticed Alyssa's unsteady breathing and her trembling shoulders in his arms. What baffled Sean were Jasper's words. Was Jasper out of his mind? What nonsense was he spouting?"Sean, allow me to introduce you," Alyssa said. Her voice was steady despite the turmoil inside her. "This is Mr. Beckett from Beckett Group, my ex-husband of three years.""What?" Sean was utterly shocked, his face turning as white as a sheet. He couldn't be
Alyssa followed Jasper into the study. The door closed behind her with a soft click. She didn't move to switch on the lights or sit down. Instead, she stood quietly in the dim room.They faced each other, eyes locked. In the darkness, their gazes seemed brighter, charged with emotions that neither could put into words. Whatever stirred within them was tangled and silent—kept at bay by something unspoken, as if a wall had formed between heart and mouth. After a pause, Alyssa offered a faint smile. Her voice was soft, almost courteous. "Go ahead, Mr. Beckett. I won't be staying long tonight—I've made other arrangements."It was clear she didn't want to be alone in a room with him.Jasper's chest tightened, overwhelmed by a surge of emotion he couldn't define. His voice was rough when he finally spoke. "You didn't vote against the motion at today's board meeting. I wanted to know… are we still on the same side?"Alyssa's gaze lowered, her voice steady and calm. "You didn't object
In the evening, Xavier drove Jasper to meet with Newton. Along the way, news broke out that Sheryl had been bailed out. Xavier slammed his fist against the steering wheel. "Damn it! Why is it so hard to get rid of that woman?" "She is Justin's right hand," Jasper said, eyes shut as he leaned back in his seat. His jaw tightened. "You could even say she knows more about his secrets than anyone. As long as she's useful, Justin won't discard her so easily. This is how he operates."Xavier shook his head, teeth gritted. "Where the hell did she even come from? When you had me investigate her, I found nothing. Her background was spotless. "What's in her past that Justin would go so far to keep it hidden? A man like him can have any woman he wants, yet he clings to her—some pretty-faced idiot who only seems to make things harder for him."Jasper's gaze turned glacial. Xavier's casual remark struck him.He was right. Justin wasn't short on capable subordinates. So why Sheryl?Was Sh
This time, the injection did not bring the excruciating pain that once made Amber wish for death. Her chapped lips trembled, and tears streamed down her face as she gazed deeply into Remy's eyes. He, too, looked at her, his expression unreadable yet intense. Between them, no words were needed."Damien… Thank you…" Though her voice was barely audible, the weight of her words sank deep into Remy's heart. For once, he did not object to being called Damien.The truth was, ever since Amber had been taken, an unbearable pressure had settled over him, making each breath feel like a punishment—every day since had been plagued by self-reproach and regret.If he hadn't stopped her that night and let her go sooner, could she have avoided Sheryl? Could she have been spared the torture and humiliation?"You should know that those who enter this place never leave. Most don't even make it out alive."Remy's gaze was unwavering. Taking advantage of the surveillance blind spot, he placed his
"Mr. Lexington," the doctor greeted respectfully, lowering his head slightly. Everyone at the base knew who Sheryl and Remy were. They were the ones in charge, the decision-makers. So, everyone obeyed their orders without question. To the staff unaware of the facility's true purpose, Sheryl and Remy stood at the pinnacle of the hierarchy. Unbeknownst to them, someone more powerful lurked in the shadows."How has she been these past few days?" Remy asked, his expression unreadable."She's had some adverse reactions, but there are no signs of organ failure yet. Honestly, I'm surprised. She looks frail, but her body is incredibly resilient—stronger than some men, even."The doctor scoffed. "But I'm not sure if she'll make it past her fourth injection today. Last month, four test subjects didn't survive beyond that point. Their bodies have already been sent to the incinerator." Remy's jaw tensed. His voice was husky as he said, "As I've instructed, this woman must be kept alive.
Xavier seethed as he took in the insincere smile on Justin's face. Deep down, he was cursing him with every profanity imaginable. "Whatever makes you happy."Ignoring Justin's dark gaze, Jasper kept his eyes fixed ahead as he strode past him.Out of nowhere, Justin chuckled and asked, "Did you really think you had people on your side during the board meeting?"Jasper halted, his eyes narrowing. "Grandpa tried his best to shield you, but his health is failing by the day. How much longer do you think an old man can protect you?"Lowering his gaze, Justin idly adjusted the ruby cufflinks on his sleeves. His voice was casual yet cutting. "And Lyse—after how ruthlessly you discarded her, do you still believe she'll stand by you no matter what? That she'll fight alongside you like before?"The intense midday sun accentuated the sharp, aloof, and pallid features of Jasper's face as he stood, unyielding, in its glare. His pulse quickened. Finally, he answered, his voice a low rasp. "R
As the board meeting concluded, the crowd gradually dispersed.News of Justin securing his position as president and Alyssa joining the board quickly spread through Beckett Group.After the meeting, Alyssa escorted Newton back to Crescent Bay while Jasper remained at the corporation to handle some matters.With Xavier accompanying him, Jasper strode toward the chairman's office, his expression cold and unreadable.Nearby, a few employees huddled together, whispering."Psst! Do you think Alyssa joining the board means she's teaming up with Jasper to take down our new president?""People have been saying they broke up since they haven't been seen together for a while," another speculated."But at the press conference, Alyssa openly condemned Mr. Justin. That looked like she was siding with Jasper. So, are they still together or not?""Come on, to people like them, personal feelings don't matter—only their own interests do. Even if they broke up, they can still work together if it
When Jonah reached the bedside, he leaned in slowly, giving Julien an unobstructed view of his tanned skin, well-defined abs, and that devastatingly captivating face. Reclining against the headboard, Julien found himself lost in Jonah's eyes. His breath hitched, and his mind momentarily blanked as Jonah's mesmerizing gaze locked onto him. What could he do? His heart still betrayed him, a frantic drumbeat against his ribs. He was a fool—a pathetic fool. Jonah braced his arms on either side of Julien's head, his dark eyes overflowing with a raw, possessive affection. It was as if he sought to consume Julien—just as he had last night."Julien, does it still hurt—" "Fuck you!" Julien's bloodshot eyes blazed as he swung his hand, landing a sharp slap across Jonah's face. The illusion of his frailty shattered. A crimson handprint bloomed on Jonah's cheek in a split second, the flesh puffing up visibly. But the sting barely registered. Not when the ache in Jonah's chest was alr
Justin frowned as a hint of surprise flashed across his dark eyes. He had assumed Newton's unannounced appearance at the board meeting—along with Alyssa's involvement—was a coordinated effort with Jasper to overthrow him as president. After mentally running through hundreds of countermeasures, the one possibility he hadn't considered was that everything would proceed smoothly in his favor. Javier was equally stunned, though this outcome aligned with his desires. Today, Justin wasn't merely his son but a constant shadow looming over him, a silent predator watching his every move and reminding him that his past actions weren't completely buried. Instead, this secret loomed like a ticking time bomb that could detonate at any moment, obliterating everything he'd built. And the person holding the detonator was Justin—his eldest son whom he had trusted above all others. With a dim gaze, Javier watched Justin rise to his feet amid the applause. Suddenly, Justin's voice seemed distant,
Justin curled his lips into a smirk, scoffing in silence. Newton had gone to great lengths to bring Alyssa into Beckett Group. This was his way of decentralizing power and keeping it in check, and he wanted to prevent Justin from having complete control. Unlike others, Javier couldn't hold himself back. He blew his top instantly, his face turning red like a tomato. "Dad, have you lost your mind? Don't you know who she is? She is KS Group's president—our direct competitor!"KS Group is also bidding for Project A5. No matter how much you favor her, you should at least recognize the limits. If you promote her, it's a blatant conflict of interest—outright cronyism!" Newton sneered. "I might understand your concern if I were promoting someone other than Alyssa."His gaze hardened. "Cronyism? A conflict of interest? I wonder who you're really talking about."With those words, he cast a knowing, enigmatic glance at Justin's blank expression. Just then, a board member from Javier's